Inclosed conductor for electric railways



(No Mbdel.)

P. 0. PERKINS. INGLOSBD CONDUCTOR FOR ELBOTRIG RAILWAYS.

No; 491,132. Patented Febffi', 1893,

n4: MORRIS PETERS co.. mom-Limo WASHINGTON D. c

Unwrap STATES ATENT rricn.

FRANK CLINTON PERKINS, OF DUN KIRK, NEW YORK.

INCLOSED CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,132, dated February7, 1893.

Application filed May 27, 1892. Serial No. 434,544. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK CLINTON PER- KINS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Dunkirk, in the county of Chautauqua and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin ElectricConduits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the sam This inventionrelates to supply conductors for electric railways or other systemswherein a traveling contact must be maintained with a system ofelectrical supply, the primary ob ject being to produce a conductor forthis purpose which may be placed upon theroad bed of the railway or in aconduit extending along the same which will maintain perfect insulationand be proof against leakage in rainy weather or in damp places.

The invention is carried out by mounting the supply conductor of thesystem in a waterproof conduit, consisting of a metallic tube the upperportion of which is elastic and adapted when pressed into contact withthe supply conductor by a trolley mounted on the car to lead currentthrough the motor'on such car.

More specifically the invention comprises a bare conductor mounted uponan insulating support in a conduit, the top of which is rendered elasticby being formed of sheet metal adapted to be pressed .into contact withthe supply conductor by a motor car.

The several features of novelty will be more particularly hereinafterdescribed and definitely indicated in the claims appended to thespecification.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention Figure 1 isa sectional view of a conduit containing a supply conductor mounted'inaccordance with my invention, showing also a trolley wheel incooperative relation thereto. Figs. 2, and 3, are sectional viewsillustrating modified forms of the invention, and Fig. 4 shows the modeof making the joints of the several sections which constitute themetallic tube inclosing the supply conductor in one form of myinvention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A represents a metallic tube formed ofcopper, brass, steel, phosphor bronze or any suitable material havingthe requisite elasticity for the .purpose and being proof against theeffects of the weather and at the same time a good conductor ofelectricity. This tube is formed in lengths which may be jointed asindicated in Fig. 4 and contains an insulating support B within it,which may be of wood impregnated with oil or otherwise treated to renderit a good insulator, upon which is mounted a bare supply conductor 0.This conductor 0 is referred to herein as a supply conductor by which ismeant either the outgoing or return conductor or both of a system ofelectric supply. If alternating currents be used in the system theconductor will serveas both outgoing and return according to thedirection of the impulse.

The tubular shell may be circular in cross section as indicated in Fig.3 but is preferably provided with a number of corrugations as indicatedin Figs.'1 and 2 so as to give it in creased flexibility. The tube maybe sup ported on a suitable foundation or may be in closed in anexterior slotted conduit as indicated in the several views of thedrawings. Such conduit may be formed of wood, terra cotta or anysuitable material. Where high potentials are used for the supply currentthe space between the metallic envelope and the supports for theconductor may be filled with oil. In its normal position the tube ismaintained by its own elasticity out of contact with the conductor 0 andmay be held at any suitable distance therefrom which will of course varywith the size of the conduit, increased flexibility being possible asthe size of the tube increases.

Upon the car is mounted a presser-foot which is preferably shod with awheel at the point where it enters the conduit or comes in contact withthe metallic tube, which may be arranged so that the degree of pressuremay be controlled by the motorman. As shown in the drawings a simplescrew adjustment is shown by whichthe pressure of this foot may bevaried, an elastic spring D surrounding a stem which enters a box E, thetension of which may be Varied by adjustingthe nut F.

The pressure of the spring should be sufficient to force the top of themetallic tube A into contact with the conductor vO. Under thesecircumstances as the car proceeds along the line of way-a shiftingcontact is maintained by the wheel between the tube and theconductor'and the current is therefore led from the conductor to themotor on the car by suitable connections, the tube rising away from theconductor as the car passes any given point and opening the connectionat that point. The joints between the successive sections of themetallic inclosing tube will be sufficiently tight to exclude moistureand so shaped that a smooth exterior will be presented to the travelingwheel. In most cases a simple slip joint will be found sufficientlytight but if necessary a soldered or cemented joint may be made. Thetube need not in all cases be formed of a single piece; The essentialfeature is that the conductor shall be inclosed in a watertight metallicenvelope,"the top or face which engages the traveling con-' tacts beingsufficiently flexible and elastic to be forced into electric engagementwith the conductor and to spring back when the contact passes, and beingso constructed as to present acontinuous metallic contact surface.

The supply conductor may be supported within the tube in any suitablemanner, the mode described being simply by way of illustration. Themetallic inclosing shell may be supported between the rails or in atrough placed beneath'the surface of the ground.

While the invention is particularly adapted to a surface or undergroundconductor it might also be used as an aerial conductor, the metallictube being supported at any suitable distance from the ground. It willthus be seen that the supply conductor may be thoroughly insulatedthroughout its length and yet a continuous supply of current may bedrawn by a motor provided witha suitable contact.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: j

1. An insulated electric supply conductor for a traveling contactinclosed in an elastic metallic tube adapted to be depressed by thetraveling contact and establish electric connection with the conductor.

2. An insulated electric supply conductor for a traveling contactinclosed in a watertight metallic tube having an elastic metallic faceextending along the line of travel of the contact adapted to bedepressed bysaid contact into electric connection with the condoctor.

3. An electric conductor for leading current through a travelingcontact, said conductor being supported upon .an insulator in an elasticmetallic tube inclosing the conductor in a watertight envelope the wallof the tube adaptedto be depressed to establish'electric connection withthe contact.

4:. An electric conduit comprising a slotted trough, an elastic metallictube supported therein and a bare conductor mounted upon insulators insaid tube, the wall of the tube adapted to be depressed into electricalconnection with the conductor by a traveling contact.

5. An electric conductor forleading current through a traveling contactcomprising a bare conductor supported upon insulators in a thin metallictube corrugated to give increased elasticity.

FRANK CLINTON PERKINS.

Witnesses:

NELLIE P. DROEGE, M. EINSTEIN.

